Thursday, March 29, 2012

Have you walked through an antique store and looked at the
pretty little silver or clear/colored glass “salts” and wondered what these
were used for?

Well here you go . . . During the Roman Empire salt was a
commodity and it was usually used to preserve food.There were two ways to obtain salt – the sea
and mines – both of which were difficult therefore creating an alluring desire
for salt. It is believed that the Roman army was paid for a job well done with
salt – hence the term “worth their salt”.Some believe they were paid great sums to they could purchase this
commodity which was quite pricey.

In these ancient times, “salt” roads were built to transport
salt from the sea or mines to cities.Many cities gained great status by the amount of salt they
produced.Salzburg, Austria had many
mines and was named “the city of salt”. Salz is German for salt.

In the Middle Ages, it was common for the everyone to eat
together at a 30' foot table.The salt
cellar was placed mid-way down the table and used as a type of ranking system.
If you were close to the “head” of the table you were “above the salt” and
could partake.If you were seated “below
the salt” you were not allowed to use the salt.

Salt was so valuable that it could even be used as payment
for slaves during the late Roman Empire.

In the Bible, “you are the Salt of the Earth” is used as a
metaphor and meant that someone was of value to society.We still use this phrase today!

Salt had power.Cities producing salt seemed to be more affluent.Some cities charged taxes for the use of
their roads to transport salt.

While salt had a lot of influence over in Europe, the United
States also had its share of “salt” incidences.During the Revolutionary War, salt was intercepted by the British which
interfered with the ability to preserve food.Salt brine was used as a form of payment to the soldiers in the War of
1812.

Salt cellars usually had lids to keep the salt dry.“Open salts” were mainly used on the tables
by wealthy families from the Middle Ages through WWII.They were usually made out of silver or
glass.Sometimes there was a master salt
that would be passed down the table to the worthy guests or family members.

So the next time you visit an antique store, be sure to
cherish the history of salt and ask yourself “where would you be sitting during
meals --below or above the salt?”

Athens, Ga. – Queen
of Hearts Antiques & Interiors, with locations in Alpharetta, Buford
and Marietta, was honored on January 21, when the UGA Alumni
Association announced the rankings of the 2012 Bulldog 100: Fastest Growing
Bulldog Businesses at a celebration in Atlanta.

Queen of Hearts,
helmed by 1980 UGA graduate Stacey Smith Anderson, ranks as this
year’s 65thfastest growing
Bulldog business.The firm is home to
over 500 dealer-merchants specializing in antiques and interiors furnishings
and accessories.

“Receiving this award for the second year in a row means so
much as a company by affirming the fact that we have great staff, wonderful
dealer-merchants and awesome customers that believe in the Queen year after
year,” said Stacey Smith Anderson.

The Atlanta CPA firm, Gifford Hillegass and Ingwersen, LLP
has annually partnered with the UGA Alumni Association since the inception of
the program three years ago to verify the information that was submitted by
each nominated company. GH&I then ranked the companies based on
compounded annual growth rate.

Nominations were collected between January and June
2011. To be considered for the program, an organization must have been in
business for at least five years, had revenues of $100,000 or more for the
calendar year 2008, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student who owns
at least 50% of company or be the CEO, President or Managing Partner. The
program recognizes the fastest-growing businesses regardless of size by
focusing on a three-year growth rate average.

Nearly 800 nominations were submitted for this year’s
program.The class of 2012 includes
companies ranging in all sizes and services, from athletics equipment producers
to web design and internet marketing firms. Several different areas of the
country are represented, including companies from Connecticut, Nebraska, and
New Mexico.

UGA alumni and friends celebrated the
2012 Bulldog 100 honorees at a special event heldat the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on January
21, 2012. The evening began with a reception, followed by dinner and the awards
ceremony.Keynote speaker, Deborah
Norville, anchor of “Inside Edition” and 1979 UGA graduate, led attendees to
the highlight of the evening—the release of the final rankings and countdown of
the 2012 Bulldog 100.

“The UGA Alumni
Association is thrilled to honor our graduates who demonstrate an
entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence that bring honor to their
alma mater,” said Deborah Dietzler, executive director of the UGA Alumni
Association. “We are proud of the accomplishments of these alumni, whose
achievements during the Great Recession are noteworthy indeed.”

Nominations for the 2013 Bulldog program will open January
30. The full listing and rankings of the 2012 honorees and photos of the
celebration can be found at www.alumni.uga.edu/b100.